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We present results of deep 153 ks Chandra observations of the hot, 11 keV,galaxy cluster associated with the radio galaxy 3C 438. By mapping themorphology of the hot gas and analyzing its surface brightness and temperaturedistributions, we demonstrate the presence of a merger bow shock. We identifythe presence of two jumps in surface brightness and in density located at$\sim$400 kpc and $\sim$800 kpc from the cluster's core. At the position of theinner jump, we detect a factor of $2.3\pm 0.2$ density jump, while at thelocation of the outer jump, we detect a density drop of a factor of $3.5 \pm0.7$. Combining this with the temperature distribution within the cluster, weestablish that the pressure of the hot gas is continuous at the 400 kpc jump,while there is a factor of $6.2 \pm 2.8$ pressure discontinuity at 800 kpcjump. From the magnitude of the outer pressure discontinuity, using theRankine-Hugoniot jump conditions, we determine that the sub-cluster is movingat $M = 2.3\pm 0.5$, or approximately $2600\pm 565$ km/s through thesurrounding intracluster medium, creating the conditions for a bow shock. Basedon these findings, we conclude that the pressure discontinuity is likely theresult of an ongoing major merger between two massive clusters. Since fewobservations of bow shocks in clusters have been made, this detection cancontribute to the study of the dynamics of cluster mergers, which offersinsight on how the most massive clusters may have formed.

A Spectacular Bow Shock in the 11 keV Galaxy Cluster Around 3C 438